Alcohol Use Disorder
People believe that abstinence is the only way — and in fact it’s not the only way - Katie Witkiewitz
image by: LEADERS FOR TOMORROW
HWN Recommends
Is my drinking normal, or could I be an alcoholic?
The trouble with alcohol is that it’s everywhere. We don’t treat any other drug the way we treat alcohol, marijuana included, and in part that’s because we mostly don’t think of it as a drug. It’s what you down a shot of to loosen up on the dance floor, or to ease your social anxieties at your company’s holiday party. You know it’s not good for you, sure, but it’s a part of daily life. It’s easy to stop thinking of alcohol like a drug—but it is one. And like any drug, you can become addicted to it without even realizing.
Resources
Drinking Has Surged During The Pandemic. Do You Know The Signs Of Addiction?
"It's not as much going out and incorporating alcohol into a dinner or time spent with family or friends," Johnson says. "Lots of people are sitting home drinking alone now, and historically, that's been viewed as more of a high-risk drinking behavior."
Advances in the science and treatment of alcohol use disorder
Alcohol use disorder is characterized by loss of control over alcohol drinking that is accompanied by changes in brain regions related to the execution of motivated behaviors and to the control of stress and emotionality (e.g., the midbrain, the limbic system, the prefrontal cortex, and the amygdala).
Alcohol use disorder: the urgent issue we can't continue to ignore
As with many physical and psychological problems, the researchers found that AUD correlates to socioeconomic status. The lower your income, the more likely it is that you’ll suffer from the disorder. Youth is a risk factor too, with rates in the sample highest among those aged 18-29 and subsequently declining with age. From a developmental point of view, if nothing else, alcohol abuse during adolescence is particularly hazardous.
Alcohol’s health benefits hard to prove, but harms are easy to document
Partially because it is such a commonly used substance, heavily marketed and glamorized in pop culture, Americans’ comfort with and acceptance of alcohol is high. Should it be?
It’s time to rethink how much booze may be too much
Researchers are changing how they study the risks of alcohol — and it’s making drinking look worse.
The Good—And Bad—Health Effects Of Alcohol
The health effects of alcohol go beyond feeling hungover and sluggish after a night of drinking. In fact, over the years, researchers have discovered both positive and negative ways it can affect the human body depending on how much you imbibe, for how long and how often.
What to do if you’re worried about drinking too much alcohol
A few years ago, I went to a restaurant with some friends, a couple visiting from out of town. I ordered a glass of wine, while my friends got club soda. They explained that they had stopped drinking.
Is my drinking normal, or could I be an alcoholic?
You know it’s not good for you, sure, but it’s a part of daily life. It’s easy to stop thinking of alcohol like a drug—but it is one. And like any drug, you can become addicted to it without even realizing.
Introducing Stitches!
Your Path to Meaningful Connections in the World of Health and Medicine
Connect, Collaborate, and Engage!
Coming Soon - Stitches, the innovative chat app from the creators of HWN. Join meaningful conversations on health and medical topics. Share text, images, and videos seamlessly. Connect directly within HWN's topic pages and articles.
